Sunday and Monday, December 24 and 25, 2017 (High Chaparral RV Park, Casa Grande AZ)

We had a pretty laid back Christmas Eve day...we got out for what is becoming our daily walk around the campground. Other than that, we pretty well chilled for most of the day.

At about 5:40, armed with an appetizer, drinks and gifts, we walked up to the Club House for the Christmas Eve gift exchange party. Karen and Wayne had saved spots for us at their table. On the left is Lu-Ann (I apologize if I got that wrong; I do make an effort to remember names of folks I just met, but sometimes I don't get it right!)...then me. Steve (taking the picture) is across the table to the right of Wayne, Karen, John and Sandy...

A long line of tables holding all of the gifts...separated in the middle, with gifts for the ladies on the left half and men on the right half....

All of the food laid out on the counters and table in the kitchen area....

 And then the gift exchange started. Everyone was given a ticket when they came in....as ticket numbers are drawn, one for ladies and one for the men, you can either choose from a gift on the table or steal a gift from someone else. You must open your gift up at either end of the table so everyone can see and when you take it back to the table, you must leave it for all to see on the table. I was one of the first ladies to select a gift...

 A bottle of Bailey's....I think the lady in pink wants to steal it.

 Left, 91 year old Jim plays in the campground band, Steve and Wayne....

 Wayne's turn...he got the bottle of Canadian Club that Steve brought...very popular! He ended up having it "stolen" but managed to "steal" something equally popular, Jack Daniels...

Steve was one of the last men to have his ticket number drawn which is a good thing. He stole a bottle from the fellow on his right scratching his head...

A bottle of Canadian Mist Whiskey....bottles of liquor are very popular gifts! An orange sticker is placed on a gift every time it is stolen and can only be stolen twice. Steve was the second to steal this bottle so it was his to keep.








A few hours later all of the gifts were taken...what a great evening! We have never participated in this kind of gift giving...it was a blast!

Here is what we took home with us...

Christmas morning 2017 started with an early video call with Angie, Rob and our grandsons...very excited little boys as they opened their Christmas presents. So fun "being with" Conner and Bryce as they opened our gifts. Unfortunately they all seem to be battling colds and fever...hope they all feel better soon!

After breakfast and showers, we got out for our morning walk around the RV park.

And then it was time to get ready for the park's Christmas Dinner...being served at 1:00. Everyone is to bring a side dish or dessert and the park supplies ham and pot roast (what? no turkey?! LOL)
All of the dishes being arranged on the long table...

The small club house is full...good thing it's a nice day out there as they also had tables set up around the pool outside.

Our table...ladies on the left; Sandy, Karen (and me)...and men on the right; Steve, Wayne and John...

We had a fabulous dinner....so much food...and great company! After lunch, we waddled back home, changed into comfy clothes and relaxed to let all that food digest. A smart thing to do would have been to get out for another walk...but we were busy  having Christmas Day Skype/FaceTime calls to family back in BC.

And that wraps up another Christmas...looking forward to exploring some of the area over the next week!